MARYLAND
HEIGHTS, Mo.
– There
were plenty of mixed emotions running through Logan Mailloux back on
July 1, the day he was traded by the Montreal Canadiens to the St.
Louis Blues for Zack Bolduc.
But
when the dust finally settled, one of the first things the first
things the 22-year-old from Belle River, Ontario did was check a
calendar.
When
would be the first game between the Blues and Canadiens? Which
player, Mailloux or Bolduc, would face his former team for the first
time in the building said player used to call home?
Well,
it’s Mailloux and the Blues (10-12-7), who visit the Canadiens
(15-9-3)
on Sunday inside
Bell Centre in Montreal.
“I’m
looking forward to it,” Mailloux
said. “Just
playing there, playing against the guys. These are some meaningful
games for us right now too. I’m excited to get back there and
hopefully get the win.”
The
trade wasn’t one that was viewed around the league as something
that had been cooking, perhaps other than the two that consummated
the deal: Blues general manager Doug Armstrong and his counterpart,
Canadiens GM Kent Hughes. So naturally there will be comparisons made
since each was a first-round pick in the 2021 NHL draft, Bolduc the
No. 17 pick, Mailloux No. 31.
And
when Bolduc, who broke out last season with the Blues, putting up 36
points (19 goals, 17 assists) in 72 games and a plus-20, opened the
season with the Canadiens scoring his first three games (four points)
while Mailloux was struggling at the outset with the Blues, people
were already making their presumptions.
But
what people forget is one is a forward and the other is a defenseman
and defensemen take longer to nurture and bring along until ready for
full-time duty at the NHL level.
The
Blues gave Mailloux a job out of training camp, but decided after
nine games (no points) and a minus-12, maybe a sting with Springfield
of the American Hockey League might do him some good. Play in
meaningful minutes, in all situations before bringing him back.
Mailloux
went to Springfield and scored twice, returned in time to get back
into the lineup Nov. 24 against the New York Rangers and one can see
a noticeable difference.
“I
think the young man’s done a real good job since he’s been back
here,” Blues
coach Jim Montgomery said.
“… I thought that the game where he started with New York, I
thought New Jersey, he showed tremendous character coming back from
the cut and playing real good minutes for us. In the third, he was
going to get out there in the 3-on-3 situation, so yes, we’re
really happy with his development.
“(He
moves)
his feet better offensively and defensively, to have a good gap to
support offense, and he’s played with a snarl. He’s been
physical. He’s a big man and we really encourage him to use that
snarl.”
Since
returning, Mailloux has played in seven games and has an assist (Nov.
26 against the New Jersey Devils), and
even played a season-high 18:19 against the Boston Bruins on
Thursday. But it’s obvious he’s feeling more at home with his new
teammates. Of his 16 shots on goal in 16 games, six have come the
past two games.
“I
think I’ve definitely been building, taking steps in the right
direction,” Mailloux
said.
“I’m playing more my game, my style. Just got to try and keep
building on it. It’s been going better since I got back from
Springfield, so I’m just hoping to keep building.”
Bolduc
will get his welcome back to St. Louis on Jan. 3 but having gotten
the ease of facing his former mates for the first time past him.
Mailloux will step onto the ice Sunday for the first time facing
Montreal for the first time and facing friends he was groomed in the
organization with.
“I
think that’s natural for anyone that gets traded away,” Mailloux
said.
“I’m definitely looking forward to playing the other team and
hopefully leaving a sour taste in their mouths. I’m looking forward
to getting back there, but I’m thankful for everything they did for
me.
“I
was with the organization for a while. They helped me a ton for the
years that I was there. I’ve built some great relationships there,
some of my best buddies are there. I have a good relationship with
the staff and
stuff as well. I’m definitely excited.
“(Jakub)
Dobes
is one of my best buddies. Hopefully he’ll be playing and I could
get one on him. That would be fun. We played at Laval (of
the AHL) together
for a couple years. We lived in the same apartment building last
year. I’m looking forward to playing against him.”
Montgomery
knows how the defenseman feels, having just gone through the first
visit to Boston since being fired there last year. It’s a different
kind of feel.
“I
think it’s natural for everybody … when you go back to somewhere
where somebody’s moved on from you, that you have a little bit of
extra fight inside of you,” Montgomery
said.
Mailloux
only played eight games with the Canadiens, so it’s not as if a
beloved player is returning, but he still doesn’t know what kind of
reception he’ll receive.
“I’m
leaving it open,” Mailloux
said.
“I only played a few games there. The fans were awesome to me when
I was there.
“They
live and breathe hockey there. No matter what it is, no matter what
night it is, that place is always juiced up. It’s pretty special as
a player. But I’m excited to go there on the other side of things
now to kind of see how it is.”
Eric Samulski
